NewsLocal NewsLake County

Actions

UPDATE: Police use beanbag round on man who allegedly threatened officers at Painesville gas station

Posted at 1:23 PM, Feb 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-29 23:31:56-05

PAINESVILLE TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Police used a less-than-lethal beanbag round on a man near a gas station in Painesville after he crashed into a gas pump and several cars and then allegedly threatened officers, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The incident happened at the GetGo Gas Station in the 1200 block of Mentor Avenue just before noon.

A man driving a black Buick Ranier SUV intentionally drove into a gas pump, dislodging the pump from the ground. The man then drove across the parking lot and struck a Ford pickup truck that was fueling at another pump. The Ford, which was occupied by an adult and two children, was pushed into the gas pump it was using, causing a fire that ignited and began to consume the truck, according to deputies.

The adult and two children were able to escape the truck unharmed, deputies said.

The man driving the Buick continued across the parking lot and struck another vehicle before driving onto Mentor Avenue, striking yet another vehicle and continuing off the side of the road through a chain link fence and catching fire, according to deputies.

Bystanders approached the Buick, offering their assistance, but the man driving told them he had a gun and he was going to "shoot and kill everyone." Once authorities arrived at the scene, the man reiterated his threats saying that he had a weapon and was "going to use it against them," deputies said.

The man pointed what at first appeared to be a gun towards authorities while sitting in the flaming SUV. He failed to comply with authorities and crawled out of the driver's side window holding the suspected gun in his hands. After a brief standoff with the man, deputies determined the object in his hands was not a gun but rather a pair of pliers he held in a manner that made authorities believe it was a gun, according to deputies.

The sheriff's office said that deputies were then able to subdue the man with a beanbag round and a Taser and pull him to safety away from the SUV engulfed in flames.

Authorities said that the man sustained burns and lacerations to his leg. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and medically cleared. He has been booked into the Lake County Jail.

Another indivual was transported to a nearby hospital, treated and released, according to deputies.

The incident is under investigation, deputies said.

Anyone with additional information or video that could assist with the investigation should contact Lt. Daniel Bachnicki at 440-350-5565.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the man was shot with a less than lethal round and that there was not a police pursuit associated with this incident.